About

The Oxford Martin Programme on the Illegal Wildlife Trade aims to provide an international hub for interdisciplinary research on the illegal wildlife trade, and foster strong partnerships across sectors, particularly through its Wildlife Trade Symposia. Evolving Perspectives on the Demand for Illegal Wildlife Products is our first symposium to be held in Oxford, on the 25th-27th September 2017.

The illegal and unsustainable wildlife trade is a major and growing threat to biodiversity, contributing to severe population declines. Annually, hundreds of millions of plants and animals are traded and derived into numerous products, consumed for different motivations and values, such as medicinal, food, gifting and cultural. The symposium will share approaches to better understand and address this challenge, present case studies to highlight the complexities of this work and how the consumer demand side of the trade links to the supply side of the trade, and offer opportunities to discuss practical and pragmatic possibilities to move forward.

This three-day event will be an opportunity for people with a common interest, but from different disciplines, backgrounds and institutions to connect with one another, facilitating knowledge exchange, raising awareness of potential synergies and collaborations, and catalyse new initiatives and partnerships.

Our symposium is aimed at providing a much-needed opportunity for people to work together more effectively within the wildlife trade field, helping to build a cohesive network of individuals and organisations and to bridge the gap between academia and practice. The second Wildlife Trade Symposium is tentatively scheduled to be held in Singapore.

Co-Hosts

Oxford Martin Programme on the Illegal Wildlife Trade

Funded by the Oxford Martin School, the Oxford Martin Programme of the Illegal Wildlife Trade focuses on understanding and addressing the consumer demand aspect of the illegal and unsustainable wildlife trade. In collaboration with wildlife conservation practitioners on the ground, the programme aims to have real-world impact in reducing this threat to the survival of wildlife species.

San Diego Zoo Global’s Institute for Conservation Research

The mission of San Diego Zoo Global (SDZG) is to save species worldwide by uniting our expertise in animal and plant care andconservation sciencewith our dedication to inspiring passion for nature. With our diverse campuses, projects, and initiatives, we strive to be at the forefront of wildlife conservation and education. SDZG’s Institute for Conservation Research is a leading innovator in applying conservation science to endangered species recovery.

TRAFFIC

TRAFFIC, the wildlife trade monitoring network, is the leading non-governmental organisation working globally on trade in wild animals and plants in the context of both biodiversity conservation and sustainable development. Through research, analysis, guidance and influence TRAFFIC promotes sustainable wildlife trade and combats wildlife crime and trafficking. Support for this symposium from TRAFFIC is provided through the USAID-funded Wildlife Trafficking Response, Assessment and Priority Setting (Wildlife TRAPS) project.

Sponsors

Save the Rhino

The vision of Save the Rhino International is for all five rhino species to thrive in the wild for future generations. They collaborate with partners to support endangered rhino conservation across Africa and Asia.

Biodiversity Network

The Biodiversity Network at the University of Oxford is a cross-disciplinary, cross-departmental network of researchers, students and staff. It aims to help members of the University better work on issues of biodiversity together and to provide more information to policy makers, the general public and the media.

Contact us to find out more about sponsoring our Wildlife Trade Symposium. Your support could support researchers and practitioners from developing countries to attend this exciting and inspiring event!

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